Great British Bake Off viewers ‘gutted’ as two fan favourites Rowan and Nicky head home in brutal double elimination after contestants suffer baking fails during Pastry Week
Both Nicky and Rowan were sent home from the Great British Bake Off in a brutal double elimination during Tuesday night’s episode.
The fan favorites are sadly saying goodbye to the tent after failing to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith during a tough Pastry Week.
With many of the contestants experiencing baking mistakes, from soggy bottoms to an ‘awkward’ presentation and a shocking accidental fall, Cristy managed to come out on top and was crowned Star Baker this week.
During Patisserie Week, the Signature challenge saw participants create Picnic Pies, while the technical challenge tasked them with creating a classic French raw pie.
Next, for the Showstopper, the bakers had to impress with a presentation of decorative sweet cakes, made up of three separate cakes and made from a rich pastry with different fillings.
Oh no! Both Nicky and Rowan (pictured) were sent home from the Great British Bake Off in a brutal double elimination during Tuesday night’s episode
Sad day: The fan favorites sadly say goodbye to the tent after failing to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith during a tough Pastry Week
The episode saw the contestants tasked with making Picnic Pies for the first time, with many struggling to impress the judges with their bakes.
But while Nicky was having a nightmare, Cristy earned herself a handshake from Paul Hollywood.
Next up was the Technical, with Dan finishing in first place despite getting blood in his pastry, while Nicky once again fell behind.
After a disappointing result in both the tough Signature and Technical challenges, Nicky was concerned about her place in the tent ahead of the Showstopper.
During the task, Rowan failed to lift his Absolutely Fabulous-inspired cake out of the tray and Prue branded his construction as ‘clunky’, with one cake being ‘too sturdy’ and the other ‘too sloppy’.
Saku’s cake also got stuck when she accidentally dropped it all over the counter, leaving viewers at home stunned.
Matt also saw one of his pies collapse when the judges cut into it, with Prue adding that the fillings were undercooked, while Dana’s pies left Paul grimacing from the sour taste.
Meanwhile, Josh impressed with his sunflower-themed creation as he admitted how proud he was of himself.
Success: With many of the contestants struggling with baking mistakes, Cristy managed to come out on top and was crowned Star Baker this week
As they discussed this week’s bakes and made their decision, Prue admitted: ‘I hated Josh’s cakes so much.’
“I feel sorry for Nicky, she’s had a tough week,” Noel added.
Announcing that Nicky and Rowan would be going home, Paul said: “I think Rowan has gone for that Showstopper and it’s been really hard to let people go.”
Fans of the show shared their thoughts on X, with one posting: ‘Oh Nicky and Rowan, this is such a sad goodbye. You were both such fun and cheerful spirits on the show. This series won’t feel the same without both of you.”
Another wrote: ‘My favorite just went home crying from #GBBO.’
“I’m upset about who went home,” someone else added.
The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday at 8pm.
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2023: WHO ARE THE PARTICIPANTS?
Tasha
Age: 27
Occupation: Employee participation
By: Bristol
Bake Off presenters have learned sign language as the show welcomes its first ever deaf contestant.
Tasha, 27, is a participation officer from Bristol and will be at the show with her BSL interpreter, Daryl.
She said: “When I got the Zoom call to tell me I was one of 12, I cried. Daryl was crying too. We were a mess.”
Amos
Age: 43
Occupation: Deli and supermarket manager
By: North London
Amos describes his baking as a labor of love: his style is colorful and chic with great attention to detail, and he loves to explore different flavor profiles.
He compares his baking style to the converted church he now lives in, calling both his style and his home ‘traditional with a modern twist’.
Rowan
Age: 21
Occupation: student at university
By: West Yorkshire
‘Go big, or go home’ is student Rowan’s motto, which he has always applied to his baking.
As a student of English Literature, when not writing, Rowan is also an enthusiastic host, applying his creative eye to his cooking.
Abbi
Age: 27
Occupation: Vegetable grower and delivery person
By: Cumbria
She loves the outdoors, searches for seasonal ingredients and makes good use of her home-grown vegetables.
Abbi’s bakes aim to combine comfort and familiarity with a strong nod to nature and the feeling of creating something magical – bakes with a touch of fairytale.
Cristy
Age: 33
Occupation: FATHER
FRom: East London
For Cristy, life with four kids means there’s always a birthday to bake for and an exciting party to plan.
She describes her baking style as enchanted and beautiful – baking that evokes a childish feeling.
Than
Age: 42
Occupation: Civil engineering resource planner
By: Cheshire
Perfectionist Dan loves a baking challenge and often finds the most difficult bake in one of his 300 cookbooks.
When he’s not baking, he enjoys playing football with his two young sons or foraging for edible treats in the countryside.
Dana
Age: 25
Occupation: Database Administrator
By: Essex
She likes a semi-naked cake with clean lines, beautiful piping and minimalist decoration; and while she likes to keep her flavors safe, Dana will often add a few twists, adding familiar spices linked to her Indian heritage.
Josh
Age: 27
Occupation: Postdoctoral Research Associate
By: Leicestershire
Postdoctoral Research Associate Josh is a chemist by trade and brings his scientist’s precision and willingness to experiment to the kitchen, taking careful notes on every part of the baking process.
Keet
Age: 60
Occupation: Chartered accountant
By: Hampshire
Keith has a fondness for apple pies and fairy cakes, which he learned to bake with his mother.
The treats form the baking background of Keith’s childhood, along with his mother’s love of traditional dishes from her home in Malta.
Matty
Age: 28
Occupation: PE and science teacher
By: Cambridgeshire
He describes his style as rustic but neat, and his taste preferences as quite traditional – he especially likes chocolate, citrus and nuts.
Once his days in the tent are over, his next challenge will be making his own wedding cake.
Nicky
Age: 52
Occupation: Retired cabin crew and volunteer
By: West Midlands
Her favorite bakes are pastries, but she also enjoys making fun birthday cakes for her niece and grandchildren.
When she’s not baking, Nicky volunteers for a pet therapy charity with her dog Bracken. She loves skiing, which she has been doing since she was just three years old.
Saku
Age: 50
Occupation: Intelligence analyst
By: Herefordshire
In her childhood home in Sri Lanka, Saku did not have an oven until the age of 18, so she did not take up baking until she moved to Britain with her husband in 2003.
She is self-taught and likes to use home-grown ingredients from her vegetable garden.